THE FISH GALLERY - SHOP ONLINE We are an exciting and growing full service tropical fish and aquarium store with over 25 years of experience in retail, service and custom aquarium building both domestically and internationally. “All you do is Feed the Fish!” is our Service department’s motto for good reason. We offer customers guaranteed and unparallel full service departments in over 7 cities. Whether you need scheduled cleaning and maintenance or you’re relocating, converting or overhauling an aquarium, we’re here to help! Bring the beauty of nature to your home or office with a Custom Aquarium. Our experienced staff has over 25 years of professional experience working with designers, contractors, homeowners and hobbyists to design striking one of kind aquariums that take your breath away!By Melissa Bryant When Mat Roy, President and COO of Living Color Aquariums in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, calls a custom project “a pretty tall task,” it must be quite a feat.

Designing and constructing elaborate custom aquariums is bread and butter for the more than 25-year-old company — a remarkable craft revered on their popular Nat Geo WILD series, Fish Tank Kings, now in its third season. So who and what could challenge these seasoned aquatic professionals to tackle a completely novel concept? That would be Thierry Beaud and his fantastical vision of a contemporary LED-lit aquarium for his nautical-themed Palm Beach restaurant, PB Catch. Not Your Typical Day at Sea Mahogany paneling, white-leather furniture and silver embellishments adorn the luxurious yacht-inspired interior of this eco-friendly seafood house, PB Catch. For owner Beaud, the only aspect preventing patrons from truly feeling like they were traveling at sea while dining was an element of water. “Thierry made it evident he didn’t want anything traditional,” said Roy. “He envisioned having multicolor lights illuminate translucent sculptural elements in a simple tank. Typically, we build coral reef to camouflage any plumbing in an aquarium, which wasn’t possible on this project because he didn’t want any coral reef.

Our dilemma was not so much in size, but rather whether we could honestly get the client what he wanted and have it not only meet but exceed his expectations which is always our goal.” After months of testing models and revisiting the drawing board, the Living Color Aquariums’ team successfully built a glowing 350-gallon saltwater aquarium with clear bamboo accents. 3 foot fish tank with cabinetAll we had left to do was “wrangle up a few lions.” 55 gallon fish tank weight with waterSea Safari to Find Lions If you’ve seen the magnificent aquarium at PB Catch, then you know it’s teeming with lions — lionfish, of course. 3 foot fish tank filter

Not only are they poisonous, but they also present a danger to local marine life and native reef ecosystems. In order to promote awareness of this environmental threat, Beaud chose to use only lionfish in the PB Catch aquarium. “Lionfish are native to the Indo-Pacific region, but they were caught here under special permit because lionfish are now an invasive species in our local waters,” said Roy. custom fish tank furniture“They feed on local fish but do not have any known predators. corner fish tank hoodBefore long, they will literally be changing the makeup of our ecosystem. custom fish tanks charlotte nc“By far, my favorite part of this job is unveiling aquariums to new owners and watching them stand in awe as they marvel at their aquarium for the first time,” said Roy.

“But to raise awareness about an environmental issue – well, it doesn’t get any better than that.” To see the PB Catch aquarium in person, go to 251 Sunrise Ave., Palm Beach, FL 33480. 8373 SW 40th Street Hours: Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday -11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday – 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. If you are having a difficult time trying to decide what type of aquarium to put in your home or business, Strictly Fish is the place to go to see you through the entire decision process. The staff is knowledgeable on both saltwater and fresh water aquariums. They will help you design and install an impressive aquarium for all your friends to admire. Moving aquariums is also one of the services that Strictly Fish offers. You just never know when you might move. Being in the business from as far back as 1991, the staff is very experienced offering aquarium ideas that fit your lifestyle as well as helping you to monitor and maintain the water to keep the filtration active so bacteria are prevented from forming.

275 E. Oakland Park Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33334 Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The name says it all. Exotic Aquatic is ready to guide you in making that big aquarium purchase which will ultimately give you a lifetime of joy. They carry not only the aquariums, but also sell food, supplies, freshwater fish and exotic marine fish. Even better than that, the prices are very affordable and the retailer has a “Lowest Price Guarantee” policy. Exotic Aquatic will deliver your aquarium and fish and set it up for you. Once they get it all going, sign up to have them do the regular maintenance and that will afford you the luxury of being able to really enjoy your aquarium. If you visit the website, be sure to check out the tips and tricks to make your aquarium as impressive and unique as possible. 6850 NW 12th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309 Hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

From the moment you enter the huge factory-like building, it doesn’t take much convincing to see that Living Color Aquariums are commonly referred to as the Fishtanks Kings. With over 25 years of experience, the establishment has become one of the industry leaders and they take great care in serving their customers from the time they walk in the door, working to establish an ongoing relationship for future purchases, upgrades and maintenance. Everything is done right on the premises, from designing the aquarium to constructing it as well as cabinets to display the aquarium for all to see. Check out the various types of fish and decide what will be the best pick for you. Even better than all that, any issues or questions you may encounter after your purchase, feel free to reach out to the knowledgeable 24-hour on call technicians. Related:   Top Pet Rescue Shelters In South Florida 12150 SW 45th Street Hours: Monday through Friday from noon to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

This tropical fish farm dates back to the 1970’s. It is a different type of atmosphere, but quite impressive in its own right, with the largest selection of fish you will find. If they don’t have the type of fish that you are looking for, they will find it for you. With a very personalized approach to their customers, the staff will assist in answering any questions about the type of aquarium that you are looking to purchase. They offer a basic small aquarium and then a couple of larger sizes as well. For those first-time aquarium owners, the Neighborhood Fish Farm makes it much easier by offering starter kits that have all the basics that you will need to get your aquarium up and running. Additionally, they are eager to give advice on pumps and ultraviolet clarifiers. Start small and build from there as your comfort level grows with learning all about aquariums. 1609 NE 163rd Street North Miami, Florida 33162 Hours: Monday through Saturday from noon to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m.

The Fish Collection Inc. is a family-run business that enjoys serving its customers. Established in 1997, they do custom aquarium installations and the service and maintenance that go along with owning your aquarium. Fish Collection Inc. carries over 300 different types of corals to spruce up the aquarium and satisfy the marine habitat. With top-name brands of tanks to choose from, rest assured that you are getting the best, be it saltwater or freshwater. When you walk in the door, you will know that you have come to the right place for your aquarium needs just by talking to the friendly and knowledgeable staff. As their motto goes, “We want customers to achieve the tank of their dreams.” Related: Top Zoo Exhibits In South Florida A longtime resident of Palm Beach County in South Florida, Hope Wilkos divides her passions between writing, fashion and scuba diving. With the gift of self-expression, Hope has used her writing skills to cover memorable events over the last five years and share that thrill and accomplishment with her readers.